Modern Buddy

I'm at an age (79 going on 80) where I need to be thinking about downsizing my scooter inventory and making life simpler. I currently own 4 scooters spread between 2 houses in the PNW and a rental winter home in AZ. They are: (1) '12 Yamaha Zuma 125, (2) '12 Buddy 170i, (3) '02 Honda Reflex 250 and (4) '87 Honda Helix 250. I'd like to drop down to 3 scooters. The Honda 250s are great for touring (72 mph top speed) and the 170i makes for a great in-an-around town scooter whereas the Zuma 125 is both a town and a country dirt road scooter. I'm definitely hanging on to both the Zuma and the 170i which makes the Honda 250s expendable. If I sold both of them and sprang for a Blur 220i, would I be satisfied with its touring capability? The only drawback that I can see is that it has only a 1.6 gal. fuel tank whereas the Hondas are 3+ gals. each. The Hondas are both carbureted which is a storage challenge as I spend 5 months of the year here in AZ with my 170i. I've become a great fan of fuel injection and the Blur has FI. I also like its weight which is about the same as the Hondas and they are very manageable for my 79 year old body. But, that stingy 1.6 gal. gas tank. Whatever could Genuine have been thinking? Anyway, comments from Blur riders would be most welcome as well as any others who might wish to chime in. TIA,

Bill in Seattle but wintering in AZ

Having sat on both, but not toured on them, the blur isn't really built for the same thing.

It will go fast and have fun, but it's meant to be a more nimble style. You could probably still do it as long as you let it cool at fueling stations.

Experts, are the newer Blur's water cooled? that's a huge difference from the touring scoots. Also, if I remember right the older blurs are not fuel-injected.

Skipper: You're in a nice position my friend! I love the fact that your cruising so much! I would sell the Honda & get a SYM Citicom 300i ($4699.00) myself. I like the Blur enough, but @ $4,000 with no water-cooling, it's priced a tad high too me. Also...as Skully mentioned...The Blur 220i really isn't a cruiser type of scooter. I keep a simple little Kymco Super 150cc down @ my parents home in Florida that I visit 4 times a year. I find that carb scooters will be fine for 9-12 months if you use 93 octane gasoline, ethanoyl stabilizer, Seafoam & I like to use Lucas fuel treatment as well. I never get any gum in the carbs when I follow this path.

I love FI myself! It's night & day vs. the carb. My Kymco GTI300 starts up in the middle of Winter (I'm in New England) without a hitch everytime! You know this with your Zuma & Buddy 170i. I'm not sure if the SYM Citicom 300i appeals to you (I LOVE the looks of the scoot myself) or if you have a dealer nearby.

Great scooter for the coin! It's tad on the heavy side...but I love 16" wheels myself. Good luck with your decision. Please post back & let all of us know what you did!

http://alliancepowersports.com/models/citycom.html

The Blur 220 is fuel injected and air cooled. I agree with your point that it is not really designed for touring. I would characterize the Blur as more of a scooter "sport bike".

+ 1 on the scooter sport bike. the ride is very harsh. not a touring scoot.
I would keep the Honda's.

"D"

TheycallmeD wrote:+ 1 on the scooter sport bike. the ride is very harsh. not a touring scoot.
I would keep the Honda's.

"D"

I'm going to keep at least one and thanks. Right now the Helix 250 is looking like the expendable one so I would end up with the Zuma 125, the Buddy 170i and the Honda Reflex 250. I have sat on both of the Kymco 300 scooters in a dealer's showroom and they are very nice but my estimated mph gain over the Reflex would be only 5 (77 vs. 72 mph) and I just don't think it's worth it given the hassle and expense of selling and buying. 72 mph top speed to me means a comfortable cruising speed of 65 and I'm OK with that. I don't like prolonged Interstate riding anyway so the '02 Reflex 250 gets a reprieve. And, it has just 3,400 original miles. New tires, a new belt to be on the safe side and a 12v plug for my GPS and I'll be all set for some serious summer touring here in the PNW. Thanks again,

Bill in Seattle but wintering in AZ

On the other hand, what's not to like about this one? It's about time Honda!

http://www.motorscooterguide.net/Honda/Forza/Forza.html

Bill in Seattle but wintering in AZ

Have you ever thought about a Suzuki Burgman 400? I have 43K on mine now. I think it is the best all-around Scoot. mine is a 2007 it will hold 80mph all day. top speed is about 100mph. but it is heavy! 440 lbs. I get mid 60 mpg on the open road. it goes way up when I can keep it under 70 mph.

oh, it is fuel injected

"D"

I like the Forza! I hope it comes here. Of course if it's the same prices as the bv350.....

The 'old' reflex scoots are hard to come by. Very few who own them seem to part with them!

skully93 wrote:I like the Forza! I hope it comes here. Of course if it's the same prices as the bv350.....

It would certainly make sense if it did. I never understood why Honda took the Reflex out of the American market and left such a big hole in the middle of their scooter line-up. On the other hand, looking at the pricing of other Honda offerings, it is hard to imagine that the Forza would be priced below the BV 350.

If you haven't read the review of the Blur 220i on Just Gotta Scoot it has some good info: http://www.justgottascoot.com/blur2010.htm

I've seen post/reviews that indicate with a windscreen and top case, plus reasonable top speed and range expectations, a Blur 220i would make a decent light touring scooter, but it's no maxi-scoot like the Burgman 400.

I have seen a number of comments about people who have found the Blur's seat uncomfortable for long rides. I haven't had any issue with my Blur 150 seat yet but the longest ride I've done so far is probably 30 minutes.

I'm eventually going to be interested in getting a more powerful scooter that can handle highways and light touring but I'd like to stay below 320 lbs and most of the 250cc to 300cc scooters seem to be above that weight. That leaves the Blur 220i as one of my choices so I'm also interested in how well it works for light touring.